The Court of Appeal Judge, Honourable Justice Tonia Barnett, has sentenced Nuru Deen Bangapoma Bangura, a 40-year-old businessman, to nine years’ imprisonment for Migrant Smuggling, in violation of Section 20(1) of the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act, 2022 (Act No. 12 of 2022).
The convict, along with his brother Sheik Ibrahim Bangapoma Bangura, was jointly indicted on two counts of conspiracy to commit migrant smuggling and one count of migrant smuggling under the same Act.
According to the prosecution, led by State Counsel A. Jalloh, between 1st September 2023 and 30th April 2024, in Freetown, the accused conspired to engage in migrant smuggling for financial gain. It was further alleged that Nuru Deen received money from Nyuma Lamin Tengbeh under the pretext of facilitating his travel and stay in the United States.
Investigations revealed that Nuru Deen and his brother had entered into an agreement with Nyuma Lamin Tengbeh and his elder brother, Sinnah Manley, to arrange travel overseas. The convict reportedly convinced the victim’s community headman to persuade the victim’s mother to sell family property for Three Hundred Million New Leones (NLe 300,000,000) to fund the trip. Following the sale, Nuru Deen ordered the demolition of a perimeter fence protecting the land and later facilitated the construction of a new fence after the property was resold to another buyer.
However, Nyuma Lamin Tengbeh never made it to the United States as promised. Instead, he was transported to Guinea and later Kazakhstan, where he now remains in poor health.
Both accused persons pleaded not guilty to all charges. The prosecution called seven witnesses to substantiate its case, while the convict called one witness in his defense. The second defendant, Sheik Ibrahim Bangura, did not call any witnesses.
In her ruling, Justice Barnett emphasized that overwhelming evidence including testimony from the convict himself confirmed that he had personally traveled with the victim to Kazakhstan. She further stated that there was no evidence to show that the convict was a consular officer, a member of a humanitarian organization, or licensed to arrange international migration or resettlement.
“The first defendant is therefore found guilty of the offence charged in Count Two as indicated on the indictment,” Justice Barnett ruled.
Consequently, she sentenced Nuru Deen Bangapoma Bangura to nine (9) years’ imprisonment on Count Two (Migrant Smuggling) and acquitted and discharged both Nuru Deen and his brother Sheik Ibrahim Bangura on Count One (Conspiracy to Commit Migrant Smuggling).
In addition to the prison sentence, the Court ordered that the property located at No. 67 Mongegba, Regent Road, Grafton, Freetown, which was unlawfully sold, be retrieved by the Undersheriff’s Department and returned to its rightful owner.
Justice Barnett also ordered that the victim be compensated with Two Hundred Thousand New Leones (NLe 200,000) for emotional and psychological trauma, directing that the payment be made immediately.
Furthermore, the Judge ordered the repatriation of the victim from Kazakhstan, where he remains stranded in poor health. She also instructed that the passport of the second defendant be returned to him by the Court Registrar.
This landmark judgment underscores the judiciary’s commitment to enforcing the Anti-Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Act and protecting vulnerable individuals from exploitation.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 15th October 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
